Showcasing the Best in the Mobile Enhancement Industry
When the team at Sony set out to recreate the much-lauded Mobile ES series of products, their initial plan included four popular speaker sizes and a high-performance subwoofer called the XS-W104ES. This 10-inch subwoofer combines features that help it deliver excellent performance with styling that sets it apart from other offerings. So let’s check out what makes this subwoofer Read more
In the ’80s and ’90s, the target demographic at a car stereo shop was men ages 18 to 24. Guys would work to upgrade their cars with subwoofers, pull-out CD players and lots of speakers in hopes of having the loudest audio systems in their group of friends. Not coincidentally, during that time magazines ran advertisements for products with outrageous cosmetics, promoted by Read more
A few weeks ago, we were browsing a few car audio related Facebook groups and Reddit subreddits. We saw the same question come up time after time: “I have two dual 2-ohm voice coil subs; how do I show the amp a 1-ohm load to make max power?” It wasn’t just once or twice that this question was asked – we saw it and versions of it at least a dozen times in less than an hour of Read more
If you’ve looked at any top-quality car audio amplifiers or signal processors, you may have seen an adjustment labeled as a subsonic filter. If you have subwoofers or speakers that may not play the lowest of audio frequencies at high levels, your installer can adjust this control to provide protection. First, let’s look at how it all works. Proper Filter Terminology First and Read more
We’ve lost track of how often we’ve said that not all car stereo shops are true professionals. It seems like some local retailers that work on exotic cars just don’t have a basic understanding of the physics behind car audio system design, integration and calibration. In this article, we’ll take a look at a few of the sure signs that you’re dealing with someone who cares about Read more
For car audio enthusiasts who’ve invested time studying the Thiele/Small parameters of speakers and subwoofers, you’ll know there is a specification called Xmax. This variable, typically expressed in millimeters or inches, is intended to describe the one-way excursion capability of the driver. Put another way, it’s the distance the cone can move forward or rearward from its Read more
For car audio enthusiasts, especially those interested in competing in SPL competitions, amplifier efficiency should be one of their primary concerns. In this first of three articles on efficiency, we take a close look at the Rockford Fosgate M5-1000X1 Class-D subwoofer amp and analyze how well it makes use of power at different output levels. What Is Car Audio Subwoofer Amp Read more
When it comes to delivering great sound on your boat or powersports vehicle, the M2 series of subwoofers and coaxial speakers from Rockford Fosgate delivers fantastic performance. These Element Ready speakers and subs not only sound impressive, but they look cool and are designed with materials that can handle the worst punishment Mother Nature can dish out. Rockford Fosgate Read more
Not long ago, we looked at how an increase in subwoofer voice coil temperature reduced the power delivered from your amplifier. With component temperatures easily exceeding the boiling point of water, the impedance of the voice coil can increase by more than 50%. Manufacturers that understand this go to great lengths to include technologies to help keep things cool so you can Read more
